• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Emergency

Intravenous vitamin C increases mortality and organ dysfunction in sepsis patients

byNhat Hung (Benjamin) LamandKiera Liblik
June 27, 2022
in Emergency
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. In patients with sepsis receiving a vasopressor in the intensive care unit (ICU), intravenous vitamin C was associated with a higher risk of death and persistent organ dysfunction compared to placebo.

2. The study sample size was significantly larger than in previous trials where Vitamin C had no significant impact on prognosis.

Evidence Rating Level: 1 (Excellent)

Study Rundown: Sepsis is a life-threatening state of organ failure due to an abnormal immune response to infection. This disorder is associated with high mortality and is often managed with antibiotics and supportive therapies. Oxidate stress is a major mechanism of tissue damage in sepsis. Therefore, vitamin C, an antioxidant, was purported to mitigate this damage and could benefit critically ill sepsis patients. Nevertheless, evidence supporting its use has been inconclusive. The present randomized, placebo-controlled trial sought to study the effects of high-dose intravenous vitamin C in adults with sepsis on vasopressor therapy in the ICU. Compared to placebo, vitamin C was associated with a higher composite risk of death or persistent organ dysfunction at 28 days. The study highlighted its large sample size compared to previous trials as a strength and reason for its divergent finding. Despite a small number of patients not contributing data following randomization, the study showed evidence of harm from intravenous vitamin C in sepsis patients in the ICU.

Click here to read the study in NEJM

In-Depth [randomized controlled trial]: This phase three, double-blind randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of intravenous high-dose vitamin C in patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU. Adult patients who had stayed in the ICU for less than 24 hours with proven or suspected sepsis, and who were receiving a vasopressor were included. Exclusion criteria included contraindication to vitamin C and expected death within 48 hours. Overall, 872 patients underwent randomization (435 in the vitamin C group and 437 in the control group). Vitamin C at 50mg per kilogram body weight or matched placebo were given every 6 hours for up to 96 hours. The primary outcome was a composite of death or persistent organ dysfunction by day 28. The primary outcome occurred in 44.5% of vitamin C recipients and 38.5% of the control group (Risk Ratio [RR], 1.21; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.40; p=0.01). At 28 days, 35.4% of the patients in vitamin C and 31.6% of patients in the control group had died (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.98 to 1.40), while persistent organ dysfunction occurred in 9.1% and 6.95% of the patients in each group, respectively (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.83 to 2.05). Both groups also had comparable safety outcomes. The finding of increased risk of death or organ dysfunction was unexpected and the study’s large sample size overcoming large effect estimates was attributable to this result. Overall, the trial demonstrated that for patients with sepsis admitted to the ICU who were on vasopressor therapy, intravenous vitamin C was associated with a higher risk of death or persistent organ dysfunction.

Image: PD

RELATED REPORTS

Removal of asymptomatic kidney stones reduces risk of relapse

Adjuvant erythropoietin therapy does not improve survival in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Interleukin-6 receptor antagonist treatment improves outcomes in patients with COVID-19 infection [Classics Series]

©2022 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

 

Tags: emergencyICUimmunologyintensive careorgan failuresepsisvitamin c
Previous Post

Magnetic resonance based preoperative evaluation for perianal fistulas superior to traditional clinical method and improve surgical outcomes [Classics Series]

Next Post

Intravenous fluid restriction does not improve septic shock outcomes

RelatedReports

Renal stones in women linked with increased risk of coronary heart disease
Emergency

Removal of asymptomatic kidney stones reduces risk of relapse

August 17, 2022
Increasing C-section room temperature linked to reduced neonatal, maternal hypothermia
Emergency

Adjuvant erythropoietin therapy does not improve survival in newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

July 19, 2022
The ABCD2 score: Risk of stroke after Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) [Classics Series]
COVID-19 Classics

Interleukin-6 receptor antagonist treatment improves outcomes in patients with COVID-19 infection [Classics Series]

July 16, 2022
The ABCD2 score: Risk of stroke after Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) [Classics Series]
COVID-19 Classics

COVID-19 patient characteristics across Mainland China [Classics Series]

July 11, 2022
Next Post
Hypotonic IVF linked to increased risk of hyponatremia

Intravenous fluid restriction does not improve septic shock outcomes

#VisualAbstract: Varenicline improves successful smoking cessation amongst African American daily smokers: KIS-IV Trial

#VisualAbstract: Varenicline improves successful smoking cessation amongst African American daily smokers: KIS-IV Trial

Improved glycemic control in type 1 diabetics on very low-carbohydrate diets

Improved diet quality may be associated with increased longevity and better aging in Israeli adults

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Newborn screening for cystic fibrosis improves nutritional outcomes
  • BNT162b2 vaccine reduces rates of COVID-19 omicron variant infection in children
  • Non-contrast CT sensitive and specific for kidney stones [Classics Series]
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.